Hi Artfingers. My medics are aware of the dead slow approach, but want to produce a flare so that they can do further tests! I work with my hands every day too, so am not over the moon about it, but will go with it for the time being. Pred is one of the treatments for PMR apparently as it reduces the inflammation, but does not reduce the long term damage from RA as they believe certain other meds may do. I have had virtually no side effects from pred and will certainly not take methotrexate or the other medication that is sometimes the choice for RA. My joint discomfort in my hands moves around too! None of my other PMR issues seemed to be joint related. It only affected my muscles. Good luck with your continued withdrawal!
Hi amkoffee. Thanks for the reply. I did have a look at Sjogrens and tbh I don't think it is that. Since I've been on the pred, I have 'Bleary' eyes first thing in the morning and if it gets windy. I just rinse them out with water and it is ok for a while then. I am reducing the pred very quickly I know, as this is what the medics want atm, to see if I flare, so they can do further tests on my joints. i think I have found my base level now though. Good luck with your health!
Good luck with that Steve! My rheumatologist did the same to me at the beginning, and I was shuffling along like a 95 year old and couldn't dress myself. So be prepared for the worse but it soon passes.
Just had a thought: do your problems bear any relationship to rsp3e syndrome? Google it to find info about it. It does sometimes occur alongside PMR or can be a differential diagnosis.
Hi Peggy. This is the first swelling I have had to be fair, in the past they have just been stiff and it may be different fingers on different days! Good luck with your reduction.
Pred is not ONE of the treatments for PMR - it is THE treatment for PMR. Low dose pred is also used for RA by some rheumies - there has been some discussion about it recently. There is a lot less joint damage in late onset RA - sometimes none at all.
Hi Eileen. Thanks for the reply. I wondered if anyone had done any further studies to confirm hand and foot involvement as PMR too! I am happy to go along with the medics atm and think I may have found my lowest level of pred for a while now as my hand is better than yesterday, but still swollen and stiff, which is unusual for me. Once they have completed their testing I will return to my last symptom free level and stay there for a while. Thanks again.
Hi Brenda. Thanks for the reply.
I think it is far better to have the diagnosis of PMR than RA! If you're responding well to the pred and are able to steadily reduce with few symptoms, I think I would be happy with that!! Good luck with it all!
Oh, I get it. Ugh, "to produce a flare", that's why- not fun. It's interesting to me how my pain moves around to different places - as an aside, I get so many physical therapy sessions a year free thru my insurance (35 I think) - trouble is they only focus on one area per 3 or 4 weeks and, alas, my PMR decides where it will go but they can't "follow the pain" like my massage therapist does. They have given me fun tips for dealing with it tho like a tennis ball used on a trigger point that have helped alot. I wish insurance companies didn't have their rules. I'd have the PT working on whatever area had the niggling pain that day instead of just my one shoulder! Good luck Steve with narrowing down what you have exactly and keep us posted.
Thank-you for your reply.
You have an amazing knowledge of the use of medication and terms of PMR.
I may try splitting the dose as I don't seem to be able to get 24 hours without the stiffness and tenderness (not the searing pain I had before diagnosis) creeping in.
You are correct, we are all different and our bodies respond differently to both PMR and the medication to treat it.
Hi Eileen. Sorry, meant RA not PMR!